Soap Box Derby at the Dock

Soap Box Derby on State Street in Erie, PA on July 31, 1935. Old Time Erie photo by William Liebler. 

It's finally here! The big day. The event everyone has been waiting for. The Soap Box Derby! Hundreds of people lined both sides of State Street to see local boys participate in this race on July 31, 1935. Events like these were held all over the country, building an estimated 50,000 cars. The champion of each city went on to the national race.

"On August 11th at Akron, Ohio, the finals drew a crowd of between 75,000 and 90,000 people who watched Maurice E. Bale, Jr., age 13, of Anderson, Indiana, race down the incline to become the 1935 Soap Box Derby Champion." -Boys Life (May 1936).

There was a lot at stake for the boys. The first place national champion won a four-year college scholarship; 2nd place won a Chevrolet Master Coach and third place won a Chevrolet Standard Coach.The first boy who won the local derby in Erie, PA is shown at 5:09 in this short film of the 1936 All American Derby racing in the elimination trials Akron, OH. It's pretty exciting to watch the race, and it's no wonder so many spectators showed up. 

Find more historical facts about Erie, Pennsylvania at Old Time Erie.

Meet Under the Clock at the Boston Store

Old Time Erie photo of the Boston Store by John E. Baker, used with permission.

I'll meet you under the clock at noon. If you grew up in Erie, PA, you know the exact location of "The Clock." The clock was on the main floor of the Boston Store at 718 State Street. The ultimate retail shopping experience. A place where you could go with your mom or grandma. A place where you could meet your friends for a quick bite to eat. You could take the escalator to the mezzanine and watch all the people scurrying about on the main floor. 

The incredible photo shown above was taken by former Boston Store employee John E. Baker around 1961, looking east toward State Street. The Boston Store had multiple entrances, and when it was raining or snowing people often cut through the store to get to the opposite street. The main floor had a high ceiling with incandescent lighting, which is captured in the picture of the store. The pillars were identified by letter, starting with "A" near the State Street entrance. Each department had a sales person and a cash register.

The Boston Store is on the National Register of Historic Places.

What do you remember about the Boston Store? If you would like to leave a comment, click on the title of the post above. You can then type your comment into the white box near the end of the article. Can't wait to read your memories!

Here's an old Boston Store shopping bag: http://oldtimeerie.blogspot.com/2013/02/shopping-my-closet-boston-store-bag.html

Reminisce about Downtown Erie at: oldtimeerie.blogspot.com

Greetings From Erie, PA

Greetings from Erie postcard courtesy of Tom DiLuzio.

This cool large-letter linen postcard shows several scenes from Erie, PA. The bottom picture shows the old Erie Steamboat Landing, better known as the Erie Public Dock or Dobbin's Landing. The big E has Academy High School on State Street. The big R is the Peninsula, better known as Presque Isle State Park. The big I shows the Perry Monument on Presque Isle State Park. The second big E has the Edison Electric Fountain in the east park at Perry Square in downtown Erie.

Enjoy more historic Erie, PA facts and photos at: oldtimeerie.blogspot.com

French Street Before Erie Insurance

French Street pre-Erie Insurance. Photo by John E. Baker, used with permission.

A beautiful day in Downtown, Erie, PA. The sun is shining, puffy white clouds are floating by, and gas is only 32¢ a gallon. Life is good.

This scene on French Street between East 5th and East 6th Streets was captured by John E. Baker. The buildings on the left were demolished to make way for the expansion of Erie Insurance. The Gulf station, which sat on the northwest corner of French and North Park Row, is gone as well.

Some of the businesses, from left to right, include Lechtner's Wholesale Company, the Perry Square Cafe, Lake's Electric, Larry's Billiards, Savelli's Tavern and the Erie Achievement Center.

Here is a view of this block from a different angle (and possibly the same blue Volkswagon): http://oldtimeerie.blogspot.com/2012/10/6th-and-french-st-savellis-tavern-erie.html

Enjoy more historic facts and photos of Erie, PA at: oldtimeerie.blogspot.com

How to Identify Old Erie Business Photos

Erie City Hotel photograph courtesy of Tom DiLuzio. Oldtimeerie.blogspot.com

Are you curious about unlabeled photographs that you have in your possession? It is possible to identify the location if you do a little detective work. I found the location of two old photos in the past couple of weeks, and I thought I would share the my secrets with you.

1. Examine the photo closely. This example is 7" x 9" mounted on heavy card stock. The name of the business, assumed to be 'Erie City Hotel,' is our first clue. Was this hotel located in Erie, Pennsylvania? Unfortunately, no address or street names are visible. Nor is there a name of the photo studio on the mounting card.

2. Determine the year that the subject was photographed. The horse and buggy, telegraph poles and trolley tracks narrowed the search to approximately 1890 to 1910.

3. What street could this business be on? The hotel sits on a corner. It is most likely on a major street such as State, Parade or Peach Street, because of the trolly tracks and high utility poles. State and Parade Streets are relatively flat, so I wondered if this hotel was on Peach St.

4. Get out the magnifying glass. I saw a reflection in the large window on the right side of the building. OITAN= NATIO. There is also a poster in the left window that says Majestic. Erie, Pa had a Majestic Theatre.

5. Head to the library. I checked the 1903 city directory and found a National Hotel at 1801-1805 Peach St., but no Erie City Hotel. I found the Erie City Hotel listed at 1725 Peach St. in 1906, across the street from the National Hotel. They both appeared in the directory from 1906 until 1913.

The Erie City Hotel was run by Louis Behr. Chances are pretty good that he is holding the reins of the horse in this picture. In 1904, Louis worked at the Hotel Colegrove at 1725 Peach St., the same address where the Erie City Hotel was later located. Louis Behr died in his home at 1811 Walnut St. on June 26, 1924.

The old Erie City Hotel took on a different look in later years. Brick was added to the facade, and the peaked roof was removed. Here is a more recent picture of the building: http://oldtimeerie.blogspot.com/2012/06/dees-cigar-store-18th-peach-street.html

Enjoy more historic facts and photos of Erie, PA at: Old Time Erie

Hamot Hospital and the Public Dock in 1929

Photo from the Hamot Hospital Association 49th Annual Report.

Hard to believe that UPMC Hamot in Erie, Pennsylvania had such humble beginnings, but this 1929 photo shows what a difference eight decades can make. The hospital, which was formerly known as Hamot Hospital and Hamot Medical Center, is located at 201 State St.

The Hamot campus has grown by leaps and bounds, and so has lower State Street. The old Public Steamboat Landing, which is visible in the middle left of this picture, is now the Bicentennial Tower at Dobbins Landing. The trolley tracks in the middle of State Street are long gone. The Peninsula is visible on the horizon.

Here's a 1910 photo of Lower State Street.

Find more old photos of Erie, PA at Old Time Erie

Dee's Cigar Store 18th & Peach in Erie, PA

Dee's Cigar Store on 18th & Peach Street

Dee's Cigar Store on 18th and Peach. Photo by Chester Wasielewski ©Debbi Lyon 2012.

You may not remember that Dee's Cigar Store used to be near the corner of 18th and Peach Street before this was demolished for the construction of the Holiday Inn. The address for the corner store was 1729 Peach, and 1725 Peach was next door. The Redevelopment Authority demolished the entire section across the street between Peach and Sassafras, from 18th Street north to the railroad tracks, for the construction of the Central Mall. This shot shows the northeast corner of 18th and Peach Street. Dee's was the second store north of the corner. Dee's current address is 1705 State Street in Erie, Pennsylvania.